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  <title>Qt 4.3: Qt Designer Manual</title>
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[Next: <a href="designer-getting-started.html">Getting Started with Qt Designer</a>]
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<h1 align="center">Qt Designer Manual<br /><small></small></h1>
<a name="qt-designer"></a><p><i>Qt Designer</i> is Trolltech's tool for designing and building graphical user interfaces (GUIs) from Qt components. It allows you to design and build widgets and dialogs using on-screen forms using the same widgets that will be used in your application. Components created with <i>Qt Designer</i> can also take advantage of Qt's signals and slots, and they can be previewed so that you can ensure that they will look and feel exactly as you intended.</p>
<a name="using-qt-designer"></a>
<h2>Using Qt Designer</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="designer-getting-started.html">Getting Started with Qt Designer</a> <ul><li><a href="designer-getting-started.html#launching-designer">Launching Designer</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-getting-started.html#the-user-interface">The User Interface</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="designer-designing-a-component.html">Designing a Component with Qt Designer</a> <ul><li><a href="designer-designing-a-component.html#creating-a-form">Creating a Form</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-designing-a-component.html#composing-a-dialog">Composing a Dialog</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-designing-a-component.html#creating-a-layout">Creating a Layout</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-designing-a-component.html#configuring-connections">Configuring Connections</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="designer-editing-mode.html">Qt Designer's Widget Editing Mode</a> <ul><li><a href="designer-editing-mode.html#managing-forms">Managing Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-editing-mode.html#editing-a-form">Editing a Form</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-editing-mode.html#the-property-editor">The Property Editor</a></li>
<ul><li><a href="designer-editing-mode.html#dynamic-properties">Dynamic Properties</a></li>
</ul>
<li><a href="designer-editing-mode.html#the-object-inspector">The Object Inspector</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-editing-mode.html#layouts">Layouts</a></li>
<ul><li><a href="designer-editing-mode.html#applying-and-breaking-layouts">Applying and Breaking Layouts</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-editing-mode.html#horizontal-and-vertical-layouts">Horizontal and Vertical Layouts</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-editing-mode.html#the-grid-layout">The Grid Layout</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-editing-mode.html#splitter-layouts">Splitter Layouts</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-editing-mode.html#shortcut-keys">Shortcut Keys</a></li>
</ul>
<li><a href="designer-editing-mode.html#previewing-forms">Previewing Forms</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="designer-using-containers.html">Using Containers in Qt Designer</a> <ul><li><a href="designer-using-containers.html#general-features">General Features</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-using-containers.html#frames">Frames</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-using-containers.html#group-boxes">Group Boxes</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-using-containers.html#stacked-widgets">Stacked Widgets</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-using-containers.html#tab-widgets">Tab Widgets</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-using-containers.html#toolbox-widgets">Toolbox Widgets</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-using-containers.html#dock-widgets">Dock Widgets</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="designer-creating-mainwindows.html">Creating Main Windows in Qt Designer</a> <ul><li><a href="designer-creating-mainwindows.html#the-main-window-template">The Main Window Template</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-creating-mainwindows.html#menus">Menus</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-creating-mainwindows.html#toolbars">Toolbars</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-creating-mainwindows.html#actions">Actions</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-creating-mainwindows.html#dock-widgets">Dock Widgets</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="designer-connection-mode.html">Qt Designer's Signals and Slots Editing Mode</a> <ul><li><a href="designer-connection-mode.html#connecting-objects">Connecting Objects</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-connection-mode.html#editing-and-deleting-connections">Editing and Deleting Connections</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="designer-buddy-mode.html">Qt Designer's Buddy Editing Mode</a> <ul><li><a href="designer-buddy-mode.html#linking-labels-to-buddy-widgets">Linking Labels to Buddy Widgets</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-buddy-mode.html#removing-buddy-connections">Removing Buddy Connections</a></li>
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<li><a href="designer-tab-order.html">Qt Designer's Tab Order Editing Mode</a> <ul><li><a href="designer-tab-order.html#setting-the-tab-order">Setting the Tab Order</a></li>
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<li><a href="designer-resources.html">Editing Resources with Qt Designer</a> <ul><li><a href="designer-resources.html#defining-a-resource-file">Defining a Resource File</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-resources.html#using-the-resources">Using the Resources</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="designer-customizing-forms.html">Customizing Qt Designer Forms</a> <ul><li><a href="designer-customizing-forms.html#modifying-the-form-settings">Modifying the Form Settings</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="designer-using-custom-widgets.html">Using Custom Widgets with Qt Designer</a> <ul><li><a href="designer-using-custom-widgets.html#handling-custom-widgets">Handling Custom Widgets</a></li>
<ul><li><a href="designer-using-custom-widgets.html#promoting-widgets">Promoting Widgets</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-using-custom-widgets.html#user-defined-custom-widgets">User Defined Custom Widgets</a></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<a name="using-forms-and-components"></a>
<h2>Using Forms and Components</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="designer-using-a-component.html">Using a Component in Your Application</a> <ul><li><a href="designer-using-a-component.html#compile-time-form-processing">Compile Time Form Processing</a></li>
<ul><li><a href="designer-using-a-component.html#the-direct-approach">The Direct Approach</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-using-a-component.html#the-single-inheritance-approach">The Single Inheritance Approach</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-using-a-component.html#the-multiple-inheritance-approach">The Multiple Inheritance Approach</a></li>
</ul>
<li><a href="designer-using-a-component.html#run-time-form-processing">Run Time Form Processing</a></li>
<ul><li><a href="designer-using-a-component.html#the-uitools-approach">The UiTools Approach</a></li>
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<li><a href="designer-using-a-component.html#automatic-connections">Automatic Connections</a></li>
<ul><li><a href="designer-using-a-component.html#a-dialog-without-auto-connect">A Dialog Without Auto-Connect</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-using-a-component.html#widgets-and-dialogs-with-auto-connect">Widgets and Dialogs with Auto-Connect</a></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<a name="customizing-qt-designer"></a>
<h2>Customizing Qt Designer</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="designer-creating-custom-widgets.html">Creating Custom Widgets for Qt Designer</a> <ul><li><a href="designer-creating-custom-widgets.html#getting-started">Getting Started</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-creating-custom-widgets.html#providing-an-interface-description">Providing an Interface Description</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-creating-custom-widgets.html#plugin-requirements">Plugin Requirements</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-creating-custom-widgets.html#creating-well-behaved-widgets">Creating Well Behaved Widgets</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-creating-custom-widgets.html#building-and-installing-the-plugin">Building and Installing the Plugin</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-creating-custom-widgets.html#related-examples">Related Examples</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="designer-creating-custom-widgets-extensions.html">Creating Custom Widget Extensions</a> <ul><li><a href="designer-creating-custom-widgets-extensions.html#extension-types">Extension Types</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-creating-custom-widgets-extensions.html#creating-an-extension">Creating an Extension</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-creating-custom-widgets-extensions.html#exposing-an-extension-to-qt-designer">Exposing an Extension to Qt Designer</a></li>
<ul><li><a href="designer-creating-custom-widgets-extensions.html#creating-an-extension-factory">Creating an Extension Factory</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-creating-custom-widgets-extensions.html#accessing-qt-designer-s-extension-manager">Accessing Qt Designer's Extension Manager</a></li>
</ul>
<li><a href="designer-creating-custom-widgets-extensions.html#related-examples">Related Examples</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="designer-ui-file-format.html">Qt Designer's UI File Format</a> </li>
</ul>
<a name="figures-and-hints"></a>
<h2>Figures and Hints</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="designer-getting-started.html#mainwindow"><i>Qt Designer</i>'s Main Window</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-getting-started.html#widgetbox"><i>Qt Designer</i>'s Widget Box</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-designing-a-component.html#choosingaform">Choosing a Form</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-designing-a-component.html#editingmodes">Editing Modes</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-designing-a-component.html#addingwidgetstoaform">Adding Widgets to a Form</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-designing-a-component.html#thepropertyeditor">The Property Editor</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-designing-a-component.html#placingwidgetsinlayouts">Placing Widgets in Layouts</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-designing-a-component.html#connectingwidgets">Connecting Widgets</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-designing-a-component.html#previewingaform">Previewing a Form</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-editing-mode.html#selectingobjects">Selecting Objects</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-editing-mode.html#draganddrop">Drag and drop</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-editing-mode.html#editingproperties">Editing Properties</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-editing-mode.html#theobjectinspector">The Object Inspector</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-editing-mode.html#insertingobjectsintoalayout">Inserting Objects into a Layout</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-using-containers.html#frames">Frames</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-using-containers.html#group-boxes">Group Boxes</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-using-containers.html#stacked-widgets">Stacked Widgets</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-using-containers.html#tab-widgets">Tab Widgets</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-using-containers.html#toolbox-widgets">Toolbox Widgets</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-using-containers.html#dock-widgets">Dock Widgets</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-creating-mainwindows.html#creatingamenu">Creating a Menu</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-creating-mainwindows.html#creatingamenuentry">Creating a Menu Entry</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-creating-mainwindows.html#theactioneditor">The Action Editor</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-creating-mainwindows.html#addinganaction">Adding an Action</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-creating-mainwindows.html#addingadockwidget">Adding a Dock Widget</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-connection-mode.html#highlightedobjects">Highlighted Objects</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-connection-mode.html#makingaconnection">Making a Connection</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-connection-mode.html#choosingsignalsandslots">Choosing Signals and Slots</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-connection-mode.html#connectingtotheform">Connecting to a Form</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-connection-mode.html#connectioneditor">The Signal/Slot Editor</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-connection-mode.html#deletingconnections">Deleting Connections</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-buddy-mode.html#makingbuddies">Making Buddies</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-resources.html#resourcefiles">Resource Files</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-resources.html#editresource">Editing Resource Files</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-resources.html#usingresources">Using Resources</a></li>
<li><a href="designer-customizing-forms.html#layoutfunction">Layout Function</a></li>
</ul>
<a name="legal-notices"></a>
<h2>Legal Notices</h2>
<p>Some source code in <i>Qt Designer</i> is licensed under specific highly permissive licenses from the original authors. Trolltech gratefully acknowledges these contributions to <i>Qt Designer</i> and all uses of <i>Qt Designer</i> should also acknowledge these contributions and quote the following license statements in an appendix to the documentation.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="designer-recursive-shadow-casting.html">Implementation of the Recursive Shadow Casting Algorithm in Qt Designer</a></li>
</ul>
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[Next: <a href="designer-getting-started.html">Getting Started with Qt Designer</a>]
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